Portable fountain



De@ 89 E93?. L.. P. Wren,

PORTABLE FOUNTAIN Filed April E3, 1956 Patentedl Dec. 28, 19337 UNITED Y STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE FOUNTAIN Lewis P. Weil, Philadelphia, Pa. Vimplication April s, 1936, serial No. `73,288

z claims. (o1. 29o-nj The invention relates to portable fountains, vespecially adapted for decorative and air conditioning purposes.

The object is to provide simple and compact means for projecting ajet of fluid, such as water, from a larger to a smaller vessel, and permitting a return iiow from the smaller to the larger vessel. 1 vv,The invention comprises improved means for spreading and guiding the overflow from the smaller vessel so that the same will ilow in an even sheet. The inventiony also` comprises improved means for protecting the operative parts from undue moisture resulting from said overilow.

The invention also comprises improved means for guiding and protecting the lead wires to the motor, and improved Ventilating means for maintaining the parts at a proper temperature.

The invention also comprises improved means for discharging the water from the pump to a point below the surface of the water in the vessel, so that the height or the spurt or jet may be modified. y

Means are also provided for the vertical adjustment of the discharge nozzle, relatively to the water level in the basin so as to vary the jet or spurt or bubbling as desired.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates `merely by way of example, a suitable embodiment of the invention;

Fig. l is a vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, with part broken away.

Fig. 3 is an underside plan view of the pump with the under closure plate removed.

Fig. 4 is an underside plan `of the same.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, of the discharge nozzle with the cap threaded thereon.

Figs. 6 and 7 are in fragmentary sections on a reduced scale showing the discharge cap ln diiferent positions.

Similar numerals refer Y to throughout the several views. f

In the example illustrated the device comprises two vessels or bowls diiering in size, the smaller one 9, surmounting the larger one I0.

The vessel or bowl 9 is secured to the top of housing member II, which housing member may have its base I2 loosely resting upon the central part of the bottom of vessel or bowl I0, or it may similar parts be secured to said bowl by screws Vor other suit-V able means. Adjusting screws I3 are also provided, spaced around the lower margin or flange, and acting as feet for adjusting the housing in order to secure the proper leveling of the vessel or bowl 9, which the housing supports.

The larger vessel or bowl In is also preferably provided with the feet I4 of rubber or feltV or the likerto add to its stability and prevent the marring of the surface upon which it may rest.

I A pump body I5 is feet I6 of yielding material: for resting upon the inner surface of the bottom of vessel'or bowl I0.

This pump body l5 is provided with the bottom also provided with similar closure plate Il havinga centrally located inlet f opening I8 covered by the screen I9. A vane 20 is providedrwithin the pump body mounted on the shaft 2|, forming a part of, or connected toY the shaft 22 of the motor 23. The pump body I5 is also provided with a discharge opening and nozzle 24 to which is connected a suitable tubing 25 leading to the discharge nozzle 26 in bowl 9.

This motor 23 is mounted on a number of angle pieces 2l secured to the top of the pump body I 5. The prolonged axes of pump and motor coincide. Upon the shaft 22, extending above the motor,

Vis mounted the cooling fan 28.

The vessel or bowl 9 may be secured to the top of housing II in any suitable way, or it may be made integral therewith. This bowl 9 is provided with a concavo-convex skirt or curtain 29 extending outwardly and downwardly from the periphery of bowl 9 to a plane lower than the bottom of the bowl, that is, so as to surround the top of the housing Il.

Extending upwardly from an opening in the bottom of the bowl I0 to a discharge point slightly below the motor 23 is an air pipe 30 which serves to cooperate with fan 28 to maintain the motor at proper temperature. This air pipe may receive air through an opening in the bottom of the bowl, as shown, or it may receive air from a point above the water level. This pipe or tube 30 .also serves to form a passage for the lead wires 3l to the motor and to protect the same from the water in the bowl I0. The feet I4 on the bottom of the bowl I0 also provide a space beneath the bowl of said lead wires, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. As the pump, motor and bowl with the housing II, may be made as unit'separable from the lower bowl, it will be obvious that At or near the top of housing Il are provided a series of Ventilating ports 34 which cooperate with pipe 30 and fan 2B.

The nozzle 26 is provided with a sleeve or cap 35 with a central discharge port 36 at the top for the purpose of adjusting vertically the position of said port relatively to the level of the water in bowl or vessel 9. The sleeve or cap 35 may be threaded onto the nozzle 26, as in Fig. 5, or it may have a close movable frictional engagement therewith.

The margin of bowl the bowl 9 and curtain with a number of radiating notches or channels 31, which cooperate in the overowing water. I

As above stated, the nozzle 26 is adapted to discharge beneath the water level in the vessel or 9, or the line upon which bowl 9. If the discharge end of the nozzle is in.

its lowest position, as indicated in Fig. 6, a slight turbulence or bubbling results above the water level over the nozzle. When the discharge end of the nozzle is raised from this initial position, as indicated in Fig. 7, the turbulence or bubbling is more conned laterally and the projection of the discharge is higher above the normal water level in the bowl, so that the higher the discharge end of the nozzle, relatively to the normal water level, the higher will be the jet issuing from the nozzle end. Caps with diierent sized openings may be used selectively as further means of adjustment.

Leaves of flowers or plants may be arranged 29 meet, may be provided the even distribution of around the margin of the smaller bowl, which will diminish the splashing and also secure a more even flow over the curtain.

1. In a device of the character described, a shallow vessel having an upturned rim, a pumping unit comprising a pump and a motor secured to and supported by the pump, the pump provided with supporting feet adapted to rest loosely upon the bottom of the vessel, a housing for enclosing the pump unit, having a smaller vessel secured directly to and supported by the housing,

said housing also adapted to rest loosely upon the bottom of the rst mentioned Vessel, the housing provided'vvith air discharge ports near the top thereof, and an air duct extending upwardly to one side of the pump and delivering beneath the motor.

2. In a device of the character described, a shallow vessel having an upturned rim, a pumping unit comprising a pump and a motor secured to and supported by the p-ump, the pump provided with supporting means adapted to rest loosely upon the bottom oi the vessel, a housing for enclosing the pump unit, having a smaller vessel secured directly to and supported by the housing, said housing also adapted to rest loosely upon the bottom of the first mentioned vessel, the housing provided with air discharge ports near the top thereof, an air duct extending upwardly and delivering .beneath the motor, and a fan operating between the air duct and the discharge ports.

. LEWIS P. WEIL. 

